I have run across a very rare marked Brown Bess and thought I would share this find with members of this site. It will also prove registeration is nothing new dating back to 1843 in Ireland with an Act of Parliament , to registering of arms in Ireland. I have included photos of a gun that was registered from the county of Donegal in Ireland during this time period. I have also included a copy of "Gun Registration in Ireland by Paul S. Lederer during this time period. The Bess is the Indian Pattern Model with 39" barrel and has the BO - Broad Arrow stamp on the stock. There is also a date of 1851 stamped on the stock which is unusal late date for an unconverted flintlocked Bess. Since registerion took place for privately owned arms it is likely this gun found it's way to North America during the Potato Famine years or later when more Irish families imagrated to NA. This gun has long history on both sides of the ocean. Futher research of the regeristation records in Ireland may reveal the owner of this gun at time of having to be registered.
Butt Plate marked DL526 (County of Donegal)
Butt Plate marked DL526 (County of Donegal)
